Containing fabric, garments comprising such fabric, and related production methods

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a restraining fabric having at least one stretch portion (4) comprising a plurality of stitches of at least one ground yarn (2) and at least one elastic yarn (5), wherein, next to at least part of said stretch portion (4), a restraining portion (8) extends in which first groups (G1) of one or more first stitches (P1) comprising said at least one main yarn (3) alternate with second groups (G2) of one or more second stitches (P2) comprising a restraining yarn (9), such that at each of said first stitches (P1) a floating length (10) of said restraining yarn (9) extends and at each of said second stitches (P2) a floating length (10) of said main yarn (3) extends. The invention also concerns restraining garments containing said fabric and the method of manufacturing the fabric and garments.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of knitwear andspecifically concerns a knit fabric, as well as knit garments. Theinvention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a fabricand garments, by circular machines for knitwear and hosiery.

STATE OF THE ART

Restraining type fabrics are known, suitable for exerting a function ofrestraining a user's body part, on which they are worn.

In particular also garments to be worn at the user's joints or otherbody parts are known, having orthopedic or restraining functions, suchas elastic ankle braces, elastic knee braces and the like. Such garmentshave elastic portions shaped and designed such as to keep the joint, orhowever the body part they are associated with, in correct positions,thus preventing wrong movements which could cause traumas, and can beworn for both preventive action and upon traumas that impaired thejoint, mostly lateral, stamina. These garments usually comprise elasticcrossed strips, which let an intermediate portion uncovered, or anywaycomprise a more extensible intermediate portion, in order to allow thejoint movements.

As until now implemented, such garments feature seams to bond theseveral portions to one another and, in particular, to bond the elasticstrips to one another; such seams are, however, particularlyuncomfortable once the garment has been worn since they are pressed onthe skin.

In addition, for example in the case of the ankle braces, they areusually worn under a sock and thus they constitute a double encumbrancethat can become very uncomfortable in case footwear has to be worn.

On the other hand, graded compression socks are also known, serving forapplying a different compression at a users' foot, in order to help incase of swelling, weakness or inflammation of the plantar arch, or heelpain.

Such garments comprise circumferential elastic strips to brace the footportion to be treated. However, such a garment does not provide anysupport to the joint it is associated with, and specifically the ankle.In fact such garments simply have portions in which an elastic yarn isknitted, in order to provide the fabric with elasticity, together withor alternatively to the yarn making the remaining of the garment. Theelastic yarn is extensible and deformable by nature; therefore suchportions compress the body part they are associated with, but have notany restraining and movement restricting functions.

Also the restraining fabrics are usually made by simply adding elasticyarns knitted in combination with other yarns.

Knit garments exist as well, such as socks and the like, comprisingreinforcing portions usually arranged in the parts to be worn on thefront parts of a user's leg and foot. Such reinforcements are usuallyknitted with terry stitches obtained by knitting one or more yarns andhaving the only function of making a layer thicker than the remainingpart of the sock, in order to protect the limb against possible impacts,or when worn in stiff footwear such as a boot or an bootee.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been designed with the aim of compensating forthe drawbacks of the known art by providing a texture of knit fabricwhich is elastic but also has a restraining effect, thus suitable toprovide support when worn.

A further object is to provide a tubular knit garment substantiallyseamless for the assembly thereof, adapted to be worn at a joint, suchas a user's ankle, knee, elbow, wrist, in order to restrain and restricthis movements, by keeping the joint itself in the correct position.

A further object is to provide a stocking- or sock-like garment,embedding an elastic ankle brace, which is particularly comfortable,being seamless, possibly except for the one for closing the toe.

Such objects are accomplished by a knit fabric according to claim 1,having at least one stretch portion, comprising elastic stitchesobtained by knitting at least one ground yarn and one elastic yarn.

According to the invention the stretch portion has at least onerestraining portion comprising stitches obtained by knitting also arestraining yarn alternately with at least one main yarn, such that atthe stitches comprising the restraining yarn, floating lengths of themain yarn are formed, and vice versa.

Preferably, the main yarn knitted in the restraining portion is alsoknitted in the remaining part of the stretch portion and even morepreferably in the whole knit fabric.

Advantageously, also there may be at least one second main yarn to beknitted in the restraining portion and/or the remaining part of the knitfabric, alternatively or in addition to the first main yarn.

In a preferred solution, said stretched portion comprises stitches inwhich the elastic yarn is knitted, which alternate with stitches inwhich the elastic yarn can float, i.e. it is not knitted and thereforeforms lengths of elastic yarn which are visible and freely extend from aso-called reverse side of the tubular fabric, thus forming a so-called“mocked rib” knit visible on the opposite side of the fabric, namedface. For example, at least one elastic stitch, i.e. a stitch comprisingthe elastic yarn, alternates with at least one non elastic yarn, whereinthe elastic yarn remains floating. This way the floating elastic yarnaims at moving two consecutive groups of elastic stitches closer, thusproviding the stocking with a rib knit effect. By the terms “rib knit” aknit usually obtained by alternating plain stitches with purl stitchesis meant.

Advantageously, at part of the stretch portion stitches also the mainyarn and the restraining yarn are alternatively knitted with oneanother, such as to make lengths of floating yarn on the reverse side ofthe fabric. The floating yarn lengths, being linear lengths, are lessextensible by nature than the knitted threat lengths forming curves, orloops, constituting the stitches themselves; therefore a knit comprisingfloating yarn lengths is little extensible, with a resulting restrainingeffect. Therefore the elastic portion, comprising mock ribs of elasticyarn, provides the knit fabric with elasticity, while the combinationwith the alternating knitting of the main yarn with the restrainingyarn, by forming float stitches, reduces such elasticity while providingthe joint with the desired support.

Said main and restraining yarns can be equal, in terms of typologyand/or size, but preferably have different size; advantageously therestraining yarn can have higher linear density, preferably equal totwice the linear density of the restraining yarn. By the term “lineardensity” a quantity related to the yarn diameter is meant. In otherwords the restraining yarn diameter is about twice the main yarndiameter, or vice versa.

In a preferred solution, in at least one portion of the knit fabric therestraining portion comprises at least two stitches of the main yarn,which is alternate with at least two stitches of the restraining yarn,in order to form lengths of floating yarn, which extend next to at leasttwo stitches. Such an arrangement is defined as selection 2:2. However,other selections such as 1:1, 2:1, 2:3, 3:2, 4:2, etc., allowing tostill have a fabric holding its support and elastic compressioncharacteristics, are possible.

In particular, the fabric can comprise restraining portions havingdifferent selections, in order to afford a different restraining degreeto the different areas of the fabric itself.

Advantageously, said main yarn and restraining yarn work alternativelywith one another and are not cut within each fabric restraining portion,in order to make floating yarn lengths on the fabric reverse side inorder to reduce the extensibility of the fabric itself. At least therestraining yarn can instead be cut at the edges of each restrainingportion.

Preferably, such a knit fabric has tubular shape, consists of aplurality of courses and can be made in different diameters and/orsizes. With the term “course” the row of stitches composing each one ofthe lines of stitches extending in transverse direction of the knitfabric is meant.

Advantageously said knit fabric can be part of a garment to be worn on ajoint such as an ankle, a knee, an elbow, etc.

Therefore the invention also relates to a knit garment, according toclaim 6, for restraining a joint, which comprises a stretched portionobtained by knitting an elastic yarn, and a restraining portionextending next to at least part of the stretched portion and comprisingstitches of a main yarn which alternate with stitches of a restrainingyarn. This way, lengths of restraining yarn extend behind the main yarnstitches, while lengths of main yarn extend behind the restraining yarnstitches.

Specifically such a garment has a tubular shape and comprises at leastone upper part, one first intermediate semi-portion, one secondintermediate semi-portion and one lower portion.

Advantageously the restraining portion extends next to part of saidupper is and lower portions and next to at least part of said firstintermediate semi-portion.

Preferably the restraining portion, in order to follow the shape of thelimb it is associated with and to allow the usual joint movements,comprises upper and lower strips extending sloped and joining to oneanother at the first intermediate semi-portion of the garment.

Advantageously the second intermediate semi-portion is shaped as a bagto accommodate a user's heel, knee or elbow. Still more advantageously,the restraining portion and possibly also the stretch portion do notextend at the second intermediate semi-portion in order not to restrictthe movements thereof, compress and bother the body parts it isassociated with.

The garment can be an elastic ankle brace, a sock with ankle brace, anelastic knee brace and the like.

In such garments the main yarn, which is knitted at least at therestraining portion, can be also used in the remaining part of thegarment, or alternatively or in addition at least one second main yarncan be provided for the remaining part of the garment.

Advantageously, the sock with ankle brace is highly comfortable sincethe elastic ankle brace is part of the garment itself. Therefore such agarment has the double function of sock and elastic ankle brace in asingle fabric layer, thus avoiding cumbersome garment overlaps usuallyunavoidable when both an ankle brace and a sock must be worn.

Advantageously, also the elastic knee brace could be part of a largerextent garment, such as tights or leggings; in the same way the elbowbrace could be part of a sleeve and the like.

The invention also relates to a method according to claim 11 forimplementing a knit fabric provided with a stretch and restrainingportion, as well as to a method according to claim 13 for manufacturingstretch garments having restraining effect.

Specifically, the method comprises the steps required for making theportions constituting the fabric or garment and the additional steps formaking a stretch portion by knitting an elastic yarn and at least onerestraining portion extending next to at least part of the stretchportion, which is obtained by alternately knitting also a main yarn anda restraining yarn with one another such that stitches comprising themain yarn are formed, which alternate with stitches comprising therestraining yarn and such that, at the stitches containing the mainyarn, floating lengths of the restraining yarn extend, and, vice versa,at the stitches containing the restraining yarn, floating lengths of themain yarn extend.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

However, the invention will be further depicted in the following in thedescription made in reference to the accompanying indicative and notlimitative drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show a knit fabric according to the presentinvention, seen from opposite sides;

FIGS. 1a and 2a each show a layout of the stitches of the portions ofthe knit fabric encircled in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively;

FIGS. 3a and 3b each show a portion of a course in two different partsof the knit fabric of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a garment having the shape of anelastic ankle brace;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two different embodiments of a garment having theshape of a sock comprising a portion of elastic ankle brace;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a view from the outside and a view from the inside ofanother embodiment of a garment having the shape of a sock comprising aportion of elastic ankle brace;

FIGS. 5a and 5b, 6a and 6b, 7a and 7b, 8a and 8b respectively show aview from the front side and a view from the reverse side of part of thegarments of FIGS. 5, 6, 7 e 8;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a garment having the shape of anelastic knee brace; and

FIG. 10 shows a part of a circular machine for knitwear and hosiery formaking the knit fabric and the garments according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a knit fabric according to the present invention isdenoted on the whole by the numeral 1.

The knit fabric comprises a plurality of courses R₁, R₂, . . . , R_(n)obtained by knitting at least one ground yarn 2 and at least one mainyarn 3 and comprises at least one stretch portion 4 obtained by knittingat least the ground yarn 2 and at least one elastic yarn 5 together, orby knitting the elastic yarn such that in some stitches, termed aselastic stitches 6, it becomes knitted at least with the ground yarn,while in other stitches, termed as float stitches 7, it is not knitted,thus forming lengths of elastic yarn that remain floating.

Preferably, at each subsequent course R₁, R₂, . . . , R_(n) the samesequence of stitches is repeated such that the elastic stitches and thefloat stitches of a course are aligned to those of the previous andsubsequent course, such as to form columns.

In a preferred solution shown in the figures, in each course of the knitfabric 1 an elastic stitch alternates with a float stitch, with aso-called selection 1:1.

According to the invention, in at least one part of the stretch portionalso a restraining portion 8 is obtained, by also knitting the main yarn3 and at least one restraining yarn 9.

In the restraining portion the main yarn 3 and the restraining yarn 9are knitted alternatively with one another, such that at first groups G₁of one or more first stitches P₁ of the main yarn 3, there is a floatinglength of the restraining yarn 9, and vice versa at second groups G₂ ofone or more second stitches P₂ of the restraining yarn 9, there is afloating length of the main yarn 3.

The main yarn and the restraining yarn each form a respective sequenceof stitches, which comprises at least one plain-knitted stitch followedby at least one float stitch. By the terms “plain-knitted stitch” astitch is meant wherein the yarn is knitted with the correspondingstitch of the previous course, whereas by “float stitch” a stitch ismeant wherein the yarn is not knitted with the corresponding stitch ofthe previous course, thus originating a length of floating yarn 10, 10′extending between two subsequent stitches of the same yarn and beingvisible from a so-called reverse side of the knit fabric.

Preferably, at least part of the restraining portion is obtained byknitting the main yarn and the restraining yarn such that two stitchesP₁ of the main yarn are followed by two stitches P₂ of the restrainingyarn and so on, and that at two stitches P₁ of the main yarn, a lengthof floating restraining yarn 10′ is formed, whereas at two stitches P₂of the restraining yarn a length of floating main yarn 10 is formed. Inother words, for each main and restraining yarns, the stitches and thefloat stitches alternate according to a selection 2:2.

The float stitches of the main yarn and the restraining yarn are lessextensible than the plain-knitted stitches and thus decrease theextensibility of the stretch portion in order to provide the desiredrestraining effect. By differently alternating stitches and floatstitches according to other selections, for example 1:1, 1:3, 2:2, 2:1,2:4, etc., fabrics having different restraining ability and strength canbe obtained. The kind of selection can vary among different courses, oralso within the same course.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the knit fabric 1 can be part of a garment,such as to provide the garment itself with a restraining effect.Specifically, the garment is an orthopedic type garment having jointbearing and supporting purposes. More in detail, the garment can havethe shape of an elastic ankle brace 11, the shape of an stocking or sockwith ankle brace 12, i.e. including a portion acting as an elastic anklebrace, or the shape of an elastic knee brace 13, or else the shape of anelastic wrist brace, elastic elbow brace and the like—not shown.

In other words, the knit fabric can be embedded in a substantiallytubular garment and formed in a single piece, i.e. seamless, except frompossible finish seams, which has different diameter and/or shape such asto be worn at a user's ankle, knee, wrist, elbow or other joint, thuseffecting a restraint of the joint itself such as to allow its usualmovements but to prevent wrong twists that could cause traumas, or thosethe joint can undergo just as a result of a trauma.

In detail, the elastic ankle brace 11 shown in FIG. 4, the sock withankle brace 12 of FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 and the elastic knee brace 13 ofFIG. 9, comprise an upper part 14 and a lower part 15, joined to oneanother by a first intermediate semi-portion 16 and a secondintermediate semi-portion 17. The second intermediate semi-portion 17 isshaped like a bag to be able to accommodate respectively the user's heelor patella depending on the type of garment.

At least one portion of the upper part, lower part and firstintermediate semi-portion of each garment comprises a portion of knitfabric similar to the afore described one and specifically a stretchportion 4 provided with a restraining portion 8.

In detail, the restraining portion is shaped such as to follow theconformation of the joint on which it has to be worn, in order to allowthe usual movements thereof. Specifically, the restraining portioncomprises an upper strip 18 and a lower strip 19 joining to one anotherat the first intermediate semi-portion. Preferably, such upper and lowerstrips are shaped such as to extend at least partially sloped withrespect to the transverse direction of the upper and lower parts suchthat when the garment is seen laterally, a sort of V shape is formedinside which there is the second intermediate semi-portion; in otherwords, the two arms of the V shape surround the second semi-portion.Preferably said two arms are curved inwardly at their free end portions.

The restraining portion, seen on the whole, forms therefore a sort ofcoil winding around the limb portion and the joint it is associatedwith, letting the heel or the patella free, respectively, depending onthe type of garment.

Preferably, thus in the initial courses R_(i), the restraining portiononly extends along a limited amount of stitches, at one part of thegarment itself that can be called rear part in case of elastic anklebrace and sock with ankle brace, since to be worn on a rear portion ofthe user's leg and on part of the user's foot planum, or front part incase of elastic knee brace, since to be worn on front parts of the leg;in each subsequent course the amount of stitches constituting therestraining portion increases, preferably until having a restrainingportion extending at all the stitches of at least one course; in thecourses at the first and second semi-portions, the restraining portiononly extends at the first semi-portion, such as not to extend at theheel or the patella; and eventually at the lower part, the restrainingportion gets gradually narrower, meaning that it comprises a decreasingnumber of stitches, until comprising an extremely small number, in itsfinal courses R_(f).

Preferably, in order to better follow the shape of the anatomical parton which it has to be worn and to better exert its restraining action,the restraining portion has float stitches and stitches of the main yarnand of the restraining yarn which alternate with one another accordingto a variable selection, thus it does not stay constant for the wholerestraining portion and/or within each course.

In a preferred solution shown in FIG. 4, at the parts to be worn on thelimb portions close to the heel, there could be a sequence of highernumber of stitches of each yarn, followed by float stitches of the sameyarn, which decrease at the remaining part of the garment, wherein onlya small number of stitches alternate with the float stitches.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 show three examples of possible embodiments of the sockwith ankle brace wherein restraining portions are shown, in which thestitches of the main yarns alternate with the stitches of therestraining yarn according to different selections, better depicted inFIGS. 5a, 6a, and 7a , in order to have different restraining and/oraesthetic effects.

The main yarn and the restraining yarn can have the same linear density,or different linear densities, preferably the restraining yarn has alarger diameter, even twice the diameter of the main yarn. In fact thisway a strong restraining effect localized in the restraining portion isobtained, whereas the remaining part is lighter, thinner andparticularly elastic in order to increase the garment comfort and allowit to be more easily worn.

The main yarn and the restraining yarn can have different colors so asto highlight the restraining portion with respect to the remaining partof the garment.

The stretch portion can only extend at the courses in which there is therestraining portion also, or for a larger number of courses, or elsestill along the whole garment.

In addition the garment can have an elastic edge 20 at one or both theends thereof, just one in case of sock, in order to hold the garmentcorrectly worn.

Specifically, in reference to the elastic ankle brace of FIG. 4, theupper part is designed to be worn on an ending part of the user's leg,the lower part to be worn on a first part of the user's foot, the firstintermediate semi-portion to be worn on the instep and the secondintermediate semi-portion is designed like a bag to accommodate theuser's heel itself.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 examples of socks with ankle braces 12 are shown,each one including a portion having a function of ankle brace as theafore described one.

With respect to the afore described garment, the sock also comprises apossible leg portion 21, a forefoot portion 22 and a toe portion 23 toenclose the toes.

In this case, the finish elastic edge 20 is combined with the end of theleg portion. The leg, forefoot and toe portions can have any knittingusually present in a sock.

The elastic knee brace 13, shown in FIG. 8, has a texture similar tothat of the elastic ankle brace 11, but has a larger diameter and ashape suitable to be worn on the user's knee.

Based on the diameter and the number of courses of the garment, it canbe also suitable for being associated with an elbow, a wrist, and thelike.

The knit fabric 1 and the garments 11, 12 and 13 are preferably made bya circular machine for knitwear and hosiery having a continuous motionrotating cylinder 24 that can be selectively and rotationally activatedin reciprocating motion, which carries a plurality of needles 25 thatcan be selectively activated between an active position, wherein theyintercept at least one yarn to be knitted, and an inactive position,wherein they do not intercept said yarn. The machine is furthermoreprovided with feeding means usually named as yarn fingers 26, forfeeding the needles with at least one ground yarn, at least one mainyarn, at least one elastic yarn and at least one restraining yarn.

The method provides for making a plurality of stitch courses by knittingat least the ground yarn, and the elastic yarn by uniform and/orreciprocating circular motion in order to make a knit fabric, comprisingat least one stretch portion 4 and, next to at least part of the coursesof the knit fabric, also knitting the main yarn and the restrainingyarn, alternatively with the main yarn in order to obtain a fabricportion defined as restraining portion 8, in which the stitches obtainedby knitting the main yarn and not knitting the first restraining yarn,alternate with stitches obtained by knitting the restraining yarn andnot knitting the main yarn. Thereby lengths of floating restraining yarn10′ at the stitches comprising the main yarn and lengths of mainfloating yarn 10 at the stitches comprising the restraining yarn, areformed.

In detail the method provides the following steps:

a) at each fabric course, knitting at least one ground yarn 2 with theneedles of the rotating cylinder and knitting one elastic yarn 5 suchthat groups of at least one needle knit said elastic yarn, whichalternate with groups of at least one needle not knitting said elasticyarn in order to form a plurality of courses R₁, R₂, . . . , R_(n) ofthe fabric;

b) at least at one of said courses R₁, R₂, . . . , R_(n), knitting themain yarn 3 with first groups of needles 27 brought to the activeposition to intercept the main yarn, which alternate with second groupsof needles 28 brought to the inactive position to not intercept the mainyarn; and knitting the restraining yarn 9 with the second groups ofneedles 28 brought to the active position as alternate with the firstgroups of needles 27 brought to the inactive position;

c) reiterating point b at subsequent courses, in order to make therestraining portion.

This way the first groups of needles intercepting the main yarn do notintercept the restraining yarn and vice versa the second groups ofneedles do not intercept the main yarn, but intercept the restrainingone.

This allows a stretched knit fabric to be formed which, at least on onepart thereof, also comprises a restraining portion defined by a sequenceof stitches of two different yarns, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1 a, inwhich the stitches P1 of the main yarn are shown, which alternate withthe stitches P2 of the restraining yarn, seen from a so-called frontside of the fabric. FIGS. 2 and 2 a show the aforesaid stitches seenfrom the other side of the fabric, named reverse; in such figures thefloating lengths 10, 10′ of the main yarn and of the restraining yarnare visible.

Both the first groups of needles 27 and the second groups of needles 28should each one comprise at least one needle. In case the first andsecond groups of needles comprise two needles, there are two needlesknitting the main yarn by swerving the restraining one, which arefollowed by two needles knitting the restraining needle by swerving themain yarn, in their turn followed by two needles knitting the main yarnby swerving the restraining one and so on according to a selection 2:2.

However said first and second groups may comprise a larger number ofneedles and can have different numbers of needles both among them andthe different first and second groups of a same course or differentcourses; thus, the first groups of needles could all be equal and eachone comprise the same number of needles and the second groups could allbe equal and each one comprise the same number of needles equal ordifferent from that of the first groups, or else be in a differentnumber within the same course, in order to form restraining portionswith a shape fitting to the limb shape and having a restraining effectsuitable to the body portion on which it is worn.

Preferably, in adjoining courses, the first groups of needlesintercepting the main yarn but not intercepting the restraining yarn,and the second groups of needles not intercepting the main yarn butintercepting the restraining yarn in a course, in the subsequent one canbe at least partially offset with respect to the previous one, such thatat least some needles of the first groups of needles of the previouscourse belong to the second groups of needles of the subsequent courseand do not intercept the main yarn, but intercept the restraining yarnand at least some needles of the second groups of needles intercept themain yarn, but do not intercept the restraining yarn, and so on to makea restraining portion of the type shown in the figures.

The afore described fabric can be part of a restraining garment, to beworn on a user's body joint.

In such a case the method for implementing such a garment also providesthe step of:

-   -   at an intermediate plurality of said courses R₁, R₂, . . . ,        R_(n), knitting at least the ground and the main yarns with part        of the needles of the rotating cylinder activated in a        reciprocating motion, in order to make a second intermediate        semi-portion 17 having the shape of a bag.

Preferably, by suitably selecting the cylinder needles, the stepsrequired for forming the restraining portion provide for forming arestraining portion comprising an upper strip 18 and a lower strip 19both sloped with respect to the direction of the courses, respectivelystarting from the upper portion and the lower portion towards the firstcentral semi-portion, such as to join at the latter.

Advantageously and in order to be fitted for the shape of the limb ithas to be associated with, the starting and final parts of therestraining portion are made with a reduced number of first and secondgroups of needles.

Specifically such steps are carried out as follows:

at the initial courses R; of an initial part of the stretch portion,activating a limited number of said first groups of needles 27 andsecond groups of needles 28, such that said first and second groups ofneedles only comprise a small part of the needles of the rotatingcylinder;

in the subsequent courses, increasing the number of said first andsecond groups of needles, until almost all or preferably all of theneedles of the rotating cylinder belong to one of said first or secondgroups of needles;

decreasing the number of groups of the first and second groups ofneedles, such that at least part of the needles of the rotating cylinderconstituting the second central semi-portion are not comprised;

in the subsequent courses, increasing the number of said first andsecond groups of needles, until almost all or preferably all of theneedles of the rotating cylinder belong to one of said first or secondgroups of needles;

decreasing again the number of said first and second groups of needles;and

at the final courses R_(f) of a final part of the stretch portion,activating a limited number of said first groups of needles 27 andsecond groups of needles 28, such that said first and second groups ofneedles only comprise a small part of the needles of the rotatingcylinder.

By using different yarns and/or machines for hosiery or knitwear withdifferent diameters or fineness, different types of restraining garmentsof different measures and sizes can be obtained, such as elastic anklebraces 11, socks with ankle braces 12, elastic knee braces 13 and thelike. In fact garments adapted to be worn on an elbow or wrist can alsobe obtained.

The garments obtained are substantially seamless, except for possiblefinish seams, such as the toe seams, in case the garment is a sock.

The method can provide the steps, known per se, also required for makingone or two elastic finish edges 20 to be combined with the garment or atthe ends thereof.

In case of a garment having the shape of a sock with ankle brace, themethod also provides the steps required for forming the toe of the sock23 and a possible step of sewing the toe itself, to be directly carriedout on the circular machine, or with a subsequent operation. In such agarment the restraining portion can only extend at one part of the sockwith ankle brace, while the stretch portion 4 can also extend in theremaining parts, such as the forefoot 22 and/or leg 21 portions, ifpresent, and/or the toe portion 23.

1. A knit garment comprising at least one upper part (14) and one lower part (15) joined to one another by a first intermediate semi-portion (16) and a second intermediate semi-portion (17), wherein said garment is a tubular garment substantially seamless and comprises at least one portion of a restraining fabric (1) comprising a plurality of courses (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) and having at least one stretch portion (4), wherein said stretch portion comprises a plurality of stitches of at least one ground yarn (2) and at least one elastic yarn (5) and wherein next to at least part of said stretch portion (4) of the restraining fabric there is a restraining portion (8) in which first groups (G1) of one or more first stitches (P1) comprising at least one main yarn (3) alternate with second groups (G2) of one or more second stitches (P2) comprising a restraining yarn (9), such that at each of said first stitches (P1) a floating length (10) of said restraining yarn (9) extends and at each of said second stitches (P2) a floating length (10) of said main yarn (3) extends, the second intermediate semi-portion (17) is shaped as a bag, wherein the restraining fabric (1) extends at said upper part (14), lower part (15) and first intermediate semi-portion (16) and wherein the restraining portion is shaped such as to follow a conformation of a joint on which it has to be worn and comprises an upper strip (18) and a lower strip (19) joining one another at the first intermediate semi-portion, surrounding the second intermediate semi-portion, and wherein said upper and lower strips extend at least partially sloped towards said first intermediate semi-portion with respect to a direction along which the courses run.
 2. The knit garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment is selected from the group of garments to be worn on a user's joint consisting of: an elastic ankle brace (11), a sock with ankle brace (12), and an elastic knee brace (13).
 3. The knit garment according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the stretch portion comprises one or more elastic stitches (6) obtained by knitting the elastic yarn (5) together with at least said ground yarn, which alternate with one or more float stitches (7) in which the elastic yarn is not knitted with at least said ground yarn, by forming lengths of elastic yarns extending between two subsequent elastic stitches and wherein at each subsequent course (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) the same sequence of elastic stitches (6) and float stitches (7) is repeated, such that the elastic stitches and the float stitches of a course are aligned in a column with those of the previous and subsequent courses, forming ribs.
 4. The knit garment according to claim 1, wherein each one of said first groups (G1) comprises at least one of said first stitches (P1) including the main yarn and each one of said second groups (G2) comprises at least one of said second stitches (P2) including the restraining yarn (9), wherein each one of said first groups (G1) comprises at least two first stitches (P1) including the main yarn and each one of said second groups (G2) comprises at least two second stitches (P2) including the restraining yarn (9).
 5. The knit garment according to claim 1, wherein the main yarn and the restraining yarn are different and/or have different size, with the restraining yarn having a diameter larger than the main yarn one.
 6. The knit garment according to claim 1, wherein the number of the first stitches (P1) of the first groups (G1) and the number of the second stitches (P2) of the second groups (G2) varies at different courses and/or at the same course.
 7. The knit garment according to claim 1, wherein at two or more initial courses (Ri), the extent of the restraining portion corresponds to a limited amount of stitches of the respective course; wherein the extent of the restraining portion in each course increases in subsequent courses until extending next to at least most of the stitches of at least one course; wherein the extent of the restraining portion decreases and then increases again in the subsequent courses, such as to surround the second intermediate semi-portion, until extending next to at least most of the stitches of at least one course; and wherein at the lower part the extent of the restraining portion of each course comprises a decreasing number of stitches, until comprising a limited amount of stitches in two or more final courses (Rf).
 8. The knit garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a sock with ankle brace (12) and comprises a forefoot portion (22), a toe portion (23), a leg portion (21) and a finish edge (20).
 9. A method for manufacturing a knit garment comprising at least one portion of a restraining fabric (1), comprising a sequence of courses, obtained by making, next to at least part of said courses, at least one stretch portion (4) obtained by knitting at least one elastic yarn (5) and by making at least one restraining portion (8) next to at least part of said stretch portion, wherein said restraining portion is obtained by alternatively knitting also a main yarn (3) with a restraining yarn (9) such that first groups (G1) of one or more first stitches (P1) are formed and comprise the main yarn, which alternate with second groups (G2) of one or more second stitches (P2) comprising the restraining yarn and in that, at the stitches containing the main yarn, floating lengths (10′) of the restraining yarn, and vice versa, at the stitches containing the restraining yarn, floating lengths (10) of the main yarn extend, wherein the restraining fabric (1) is manufactured by a circular machine for knitwear and hosiery having a continuous motion rotating cylinder (24) that can be selectively and rotationally activated in reciprocating motion, which carries a plurality of needles (25) that can be selectively activated between an active position, wherein they intercept at least one yarn to be knitted, and an inactive position, wherein they do not intercept said yarn, the method comprising the steps of: a) knitting, at each fabric course, with the needles of the rotating cylinder at least one ground yarn (2) and at least one elastic yarn (5) to form a plurality of courses (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) of the fabric, in order to make a stretched portion (4); b) knitting, at least at one of said courses (R1, R2, . . . , Rn), at least one main yarn (3) with first groups of needles (27) brought to the active position to intercept the main yarn, which alternate with second groups of needles (28) brought to the inactive position to not intercept the main yarn; and knitting the restraining yarn with the second groups of needles (28) brought to the active position to intercept the restraining yarn, which alternate with the first groups of needles (27) brought to the inactive position, to not intercept the restraining yarn; and c) reiterating step b) for a plurality of subsequent courses in order to make a restraining portion next to at least part of the stretch portion (4); wherein the step a) can be actuated such that groups of needles (27) comprising at least one needle knit said elastic yarn, which alternate with groups of needles (28) comprising at least one needle that do not knit said elastic yarn, and wherein step a) is carried out such that, next to at least some subsequent courses (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) of the garment, an upper part (14), a first intermediate semi-portion (16) and a lower part (15) of a stretch portion (4) are formed; and wherein a step b′) is provided wherein, at an intermediate plurality of said courses (R1, R2, . . . , Rn), at least the ground yarn is knitted with part of the needles of the rotating cylinder to make a second intermediate semi-portion (17) having the shape of a bag.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said garment is configured for being associated with a user's body joint, specifically wherein said garment is an elastic ankle brace (11), an elastic knee brace (13), or a sock with ankle brace (12), and wherein the method provides the steps required for making such a garment, including the step of making an elastic edge (20) at the ends or end of said garment.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said garment is a sock with ankle brace and further comprising: making at least one of: a forefoot portion (22), a toe portion (23) or a possible leg portion (21).
 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein, by suitably selecting the cylinder needles, steps b) and c) provide for forming a restraining portion comprising an upper strip (18) and a lower strip (19) both sloped with respect to a direction along which the courses extend, starting respectively from the upper portion (14) and the lower portion (15) towards the first central semi-portion (16), such as to join at the first central semi-portion (16) and being shaped such as to surround the second intermediate semi-portion (17). 